Anna.
Catherine was unaware of their parents’ wickedness, and neither did she know that Hunter was intended for Anna. When they were children, Anna had been punished in secret and made to swear never to tell her sister.
In the times that Catherine had discovered her bruises, Anna always told her that she was out playing or something of that sort. Now, she did not reveal the truth either. There was no point in troubling her grieving sister with such news.
Unable to sit still in her bedchamber or any of the drawing rooms after writing the letter, Anna decided to roam the manor. It was not raining today but the skies were cloudy and grim. As she walked down the hall, she caught sight of a magnificent garden through the windows and decided that would be her destination.
A cluster of servants she walked past regarded her curiously, which made her quite conscious of herself and a little uneasy. The gardens were lovely with cobbled pathways spiraling in lovely patterns between flower bushes. If she had the talent to draw or paint, this place would have given her much to occupy herself with.
Anna found a bench beneath a tree and sat, folding her hands on her lap. Then she thought she should have brought a book. Being left alone with her thoughts was a dreadful thing, and so she stood abruptly and began to walk about, distracting herself with the bright colors around her while her fingers fidgeted with the flounce attached to the waist of her dress.
Footsteps behind her made her quickly turn, and she was about to smile and tell Ashden that she was glad he had joined her but saw a different man. He regarded her with curious gray eyes.
Then he bowed. “Forgive me for interrupting your leisure, Madam. I am Sir Nathaniel Bradford, a good friend of the Duke’s.”
“Oh.” Anna curtsied. “Miss Annelise Hampton.”
He smiled and tilted his dark head. “Are you a relative of the Duke’s?”
“No, I am his fiancée.”
His brows ascended while his mouth fell open. “I beg your pardon?”
“We got engaged this morning,” she said, almost laughing at his surprise.
“I see. I did not know Ashden was courting anyone.”
“We never courted,” she clarified, then winced inwardly when she realized she was telling him too much. She had to stop talking excessively.
Sir Nathaniel’s brows contracted. “That is quite interesting. Congratulations, Miss Hampton.”
“Thank you, Sir.” She turned and continued walking, and he fell into step beside her.
“Your name sounds familiar. Are you related to Baron Hampton?” he asked.
“He is my father.”
“Ah.” He stopped suddenly. “I saw Lord Darpley at White’s a week ago, and he happily announced that he was marrying a Miss Hampton. Is that your sister?”
Anna’s stomach knotted. “No…that was me, but that engagement no longer stands. Are you well acquainted with Lord Darpley?”
“We are business associates as a matter of fact,” he declared.
Anna slowly took a step away from him, suddenly growing very nervous and wary of Sir Nathaniel. She was thinking of an excuse to leave the gardens when she turned her head toward the manor and saw Ashden approaching. Something comforting filled her and she stepped further away from Sir Nathaniel.
“I see you have met Miss Hampton before I even got the chance to tell you about our engagement,” he said, coming to stand beside her. His large frame made her feel safe, and the need to lean onto him returned.
“Yes. It is surprising news,” Sir Nathaniel said.
“It was unexpected,” Ashden murmured, looking down at her with an unreadable expression. “Miss Hampton, Nathaniel is my dearest friend.”
Hearing that took away some of her wariness. If he was Ashden’s dearest friend, then he was likely a good man. She glanced at Sir Nathaniel and smiled a little, while he looked from her to Ashden with great interest. It was evident he had questions about their sudden engagement.
Ashden leaned close to her and said, “Mrs. Willis is searching for you.”
She was not sure whether he was subtly asking her to leave him alone with his friend but she said, “I will find her now,” before turning to Sir Nathaniel with, “It is a pleasure making your acquaintance, Sir.”
“Likewise, Miss Hampton,” he replied genially.
